Paint brush storage device



P. E. M NAMARA PAINT BRUSH STORAGE DEVICE Filed March 2, 1955 2 A m p o N g m M R L m m mm. B F VN T 7 m C II A z \pfl I; K a M 5 E ":5 E 4 w m Feb. 26, 1957 PAINT BRUSH STORAGE DEVICE Paul E. McNamara, Rochester, N. Y.

Application March 2, 1955, Serial No. 491,670

4 Claims. (Cl. 206-15.1)

The invention relates to a paint brush storage device which is adapted to support the bristled end of the brush suspended within a reasonably air and liquid-tight solvent container. 1

An object of the invention is to provide a generally improved and more satisfactory paint brush storage de- VlCe- Another object is to provide a more efficient paint brush storage device in which the bristled end of the brush is held in suspended position by a gripping force applied to the paint brush handle.

Still another object is the provision of a storage device for paint brushes in which the paint brush bristles are immersed within a solvent or cleaning solution held within a reasonably air and liquid-tight container.

A further object is the provision of a paint brush storage device which is adapted for use with paint brushes of different handle sizes.

A still further object is the provision of a device, for use in storing paint brushes, which is simple in construction and use, can be manufactured easily by mass production methods and from readily available and economical materials, and can be easily handled, stored, and transported.

These and other desirable objects may be attained in the manner disclosed as an illustrative embodiment of the invention in the following description and in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the combined brush support and container illustrating the present invention in use with a paint brush, shown partly by broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the cover or brush support member of the structure shown in Fig. 1, with the paint brush and its retaining sleeve or washer removed;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the brush retaining sleeve or washer shown on an enlarged scale; and r Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section on an enlarged scale through a portion of the side walls of the cover and container members of the present invention in their 1 disengaged position.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

A common and longstanding problem encountered by all painters has been the satisfactory storage of paint brushes after use. The-conventional practice has been to restthe brush on its, bristled end within an opencan containing a suitable solvent. This method however has proved to berunsatisfactory since the paint brush bristles bear a largeportion ,of the weight of the paint brush and soon acquire a definite curl which limits or destroys the utility vof the brush. Furthermore, theopen type solvent containers permit rapid contamination and evaporation of the solvent, in addition to creating a health and. fire hazard.

' In accordance with the present inventionallof the above noted objections are eliminated by'providing a ited States atent bristled end suspended within a reasonably air and liquidtight solvent container. With reference to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown on the drawing, the combined paint brush support and container includes a top or cover member which functions as the brush support, and a bottom or container member which holds the solvent, and within which the bristled end of the paint brush is suspended.

The bottom or container member includes a front and rear wall 11 and 13, respectively, side walls 15, and a bottom wall 17, and is preferably formed as an integral or one-piece unit by a molding or stamping operation. Aside from having a shape suitable for receiving the bristled end of a paint brush, the particular cross-sectional configuration of the container portion has little bearing on the utility of the present invention. However, from the standpoint of ease of manufacture and shipping of the finished article it is desirable to provide the container member with a tapered or stepped wall construction. As seen from the drawing, the bottom member presents a pleasing appearance, and it is believed evident that a number of these container members can be telescopically stacked to provide compact units which can be easily handled, stored, and transported.

The cover member, as seen in Fig. 3, has a shape which conforms, in general, with the outline formed by edge surfaces of the walls of the container with which the top is to mate. Along its periphery, the cover member is provided with a reversely bent portion forming a continuous tapered groove 19 having an approximately vertical face 21, a connecting arcuate portion 23, and a downwardly and outwardly inclined face 25. As best seen in Fig. 5, the width of the tapered groove 19 at its midportion is approximately equal to the thickness of the material forming the walls of the container or bottom member, and becomes progressively narrower as the closed end of the groove is approached.

By this construction, the edge portions of the container member are received withm the groove 19 with a wedging action which provides for a more effective air and liquid-tight seal as the edge portions of the bottom member are forced further into the groove 19 of the cover member. Further, the friction developed between the edge portions of the bottom member and the walls of the groove 19 of the cover member provide for a reliable seal which will not be easily jarred loose by vibrations or accidental overturning of the device. Preferably, both .or either of the members is formed of a material having some degree of flexibility in order that the coacting parts can be deformed slightly to insure a tight seal therebetween, yet be self-supporting. Numerous materials fall within these requirements, however a plastic, such as polyethylene, is preferred since it is economical, can be easily molded into almost any desired shape, is not subject to corrosive or chemical attack by conventional paint solvents, and is available in translucent form which permits the user to identify his brushes without removal of the top member.

The central portion of the cover member may be merely a fiat wall surface, if desired. However, to increase the vertical capacity of the device without forming s the bottom member of such a height as to make proper cleaning a difficult task, the top member is preferably Patented Feb. 26, 7.

3 with the wall of the opening 31, it is preferred to interpose a retaining sleeve or washer or bushing 33 between the paint brush handle and the cover member. Thus, the opening 3 1 may be of any shape, with an oval or elt s' l S ra asshswa mnes fis 9fi t most desirable since it conforms approximately to the cross-sectional shape of the necked portion of a conven tional paint brush handle.

The retaining sleeve or washer 33 formed of a resili ent and hi'ghly compressible material, such as sponge rubber, and includes a top and bottom surface 35 and 37, respectively, having an elliptical shape similar to the opening 31 in the cover member, a tapered side wall 39 extending between said top and bottom surfaces 35 and 37, and a central oval-shaped opening 41 through which the paint brush handle is adapted to extend. The upper portion 'of the washer 33 is slightly smaller in size than the opening 31 in the cover member to permit the washer 33 to be easily inserted upwardly into the opening 31 and be wedged therein as shown in Fig. 2.

The size of the opening 41 in the washer 33 is made slightly smaller'than the average handle size of the paint brush for which the particular device is designed, to enable the paint brush handle to be frictionally gripped therein. It is 'of course evident that the compressible and resilient nature of the washer 33 permits the opening 41 to be enlarged to some extent and thus the sleeve 33 is capable of frictionally receiving a variety of paint brushes having handle sizes greater than the size of the opening 41 in its normal state. Further, the tapered side wall construction of the washer 33, in addition to its compressible and resilient character, enables the washer to be wedged upwardly into the opening 31 in the cover member 'to varying degrees. Therefore, paint brushes having handle sizes slightly smaller than the opening 41 may be supported by the washer 33 by merely forcing the washer 33 upwardly into the opening 31 to such an eittentas 'toca'use the wall of the opening 41 to collapse slightly and firmly grip the paint brush handle. It is therefore evident that the device of the present invention is not limited to use with any one particular paint brush handle size, but is capable of satisfactory performance with a variety of brushes having handle sizes falling within a range determined by the compressibility and resilience of the washer'33, and the size of its "opening 41.

In use, with the resilient Washer 33 removed from the cover member, the end of the paint brush handle is passed upwardly through the opening 41 of the sleeve 33 'until the washer is seated along the necked or reduced portion of the handle, as shown in Fig. 2. The end of the paint brush handle is then 'moved upwardly through the opening 31 in the cover member until the side wall 39 of the 'sleeve 33 is firmly wedged therein. In this position, an 'efliective air and liquid seal is provided between the paint brush handle, the sleeve 33, and the cover member. The cover member is then applied onto the container or bottom member in which the paint solvent has been placed. As previously described, the coaetion between the'upper edge portion of'the container member 'and'the tapered groove 19'of the coverr'n ember suitably fixes the cover member in place and provides a reliable leak-proof joint. The parts arenow iii position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with only the bristled end ofthe brush being immersed within the paint solvent, the upper'level of which is shown by the broken line 40 in Fig. -2, and with the weight of the paint brush itself carried by the cover and container members.

To remove the paint from the device for use, it is only necessary for the user to remove the cover member from the container member, and then urge the brush handle and the washer 33 downwardly relative to the cover member to free the washer from the opening 31. The sleeve 33 may be then removed, if desired, or may remain on the handle during use of the brush. Since the parts of the painters hand are likely to come into contact with the washer 33 if it remains on the handle, the washer 33 is provided with a rounded corner 43 between its upper face 35 and its side wall 39 to form a comfortable rest. Further, to protect the painters hands and the body of the washer 33 from excessive paint drippings, the lower face 37 is formed with an oval shaped paint drip groove 45, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 4.

While the above described structure is simple both from the standpoint of construction and mode of operation, it is believed evident that it eliminates the disadvantages and hazards encountered with known paint brush storage devices, and requires no special training or skill on the part of its user.

It is seen from the foregoing disclosure that the above mentioned objects of the invention are well fulfilled. It is to be understood that the foregoing disclosure is given by way of illustrative example only, rather than by way of limitation, and that without departing from the invention, the details may be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a sponge rubber insert sleeve adapted to maintain a paint brush handle in a container closure member having an opening therein, said insert sleeve including a sponge rubber body having a central aperture adapted to have a paint brush handle thrust endwise thereth'rough and having sufiicient resilience to engage around and friction'ally retain such handle, said sponge rubber body having upwardly tapered side walls adapted to be thrust upwardly through and to be wedged frictionally in an opening in the top of a closure membenand a groove in the lower end of said sponge rubber body in encircling relation to a paint brush handle thrust through said body, to tend to retain paint dripping from the brush down the handle when the b'rush is held in inverted position with the sponge rubber body thereon.

2 The combination with a paint brush having 'a bristle portjion of rel'atively large lcross sectional area and a handle port-ionof substantially less cross sectional area, bf a liquid holding container having'suflicient horizontal cross sectional area to accommodate said bristle portion of said brush, a cover member removably engageable in sealed relation with said container near the upper edge thereof, said cover member being domed upwardly so that the central portion thereof is at a materially higher elevation than the upper edge of said container when said cover member is in normal position engaged with said container, an opening in the central portion of said cover member, said opening being of larger area than the cross sectional area of said handle portion and of smaller area than thecross sectional area of said bristle portion, and a soft resilient and easilycomp'ressible sleeve surrounding said handle portion in frictionally gripping and supporting relation thereto, the exterior surface of said sleeve being tightly wedged into and supported from said opening of said cover member, the-part of said ha'n'dl'eportio'n ab'ove'said resilient sleeve 'being uncovered and exposed so that it rnay be manually grasped for use 'in "a painting operation without removing the brush from said cover member, the domed cover memberthen'sei'vingto catch paint drippingfromrthie brush when itis held in an inverted position as in applying'paint to a ceiling.

3. A construction as defined 'in claim 2, wherein said containernieniber is provided with 'a vertically tapered configuration'to per-riiit'a plurality of said 'containe'r'hiem- "be'rs to lie tele's'eopieally staeked fortransp df in g, and at least brie of, s"aid container 'c'over members is formed or a 'fiexib'le material'to insure a tight engagem'entlbetweensaid,members as they'ar'econiiected.

4. ,Theconibinationwith apaint'brush having 'aliris 'tle portion of "relatively large cross sectional "area and a handle peampt substantially less fc'r'oss'sectional area, of a liquid holding container having 'sufiieient huriiorital cross sectional area to accommodate said bristle warm (it said brush, a 'eover'iii'ember ren'iovably'en'g'ageable in sealed relation with said container near the upper edge thereof, said cover member being domed upwardly so that the central portion thereof is at a materially higher elevation than the upper edge of said container when said cover member is in normal position engaged with said container, said cover being relatively rigid, an opening in the central portion of said cover member through which opening said handle portion may be inserted to project upwardly above said cover member to an accessible and manually engageable position above said cover memher, and means associated with said opening in said cover member for engaging the handle portion of said brush with sufiicient force to support said brush from said cover portion with the bristle portion of the brush depending References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 545,949 Dodge Sept. 10, 1895 2,141,531 Graham Dec. 27, 1938 2,623,685 Hill Dec. 30, 1952 2,638,261 Poole May 12, 1953 

